Briefly noted

Pitt Schools, Programs Advance in U.S. News’ Best Graduate Schools Rankings

In the latest edition of U.S. News & World Report’s Best Graduate Schools, a number of University of Pittsburgh schools and programs have advanced in the guidebook rankings, according to the publication’s 2012 methodology. These rankings appear in highlights form in the Best Graduate Schools book, available for newsstand purchase on April 3, and for purchase online; visit www.usnews.com/usnews/store/grad_school_compass.htm for more information.

Within the Top Schools of Medicine—Primary Care category, Pitt’s School of Medicine advanced to No. 18, up from No. 28 last year. And in the Medical Specialties—Pediatrics category, Pitt moved up to No. 9 from No. 11 last year. In the Health Disciplines categories last ranked in 2008, Pitt jumped from No. 16 last year to No. 8 this year in Audiology, tied with Northwestern University; from No. 9 to No. 6 in Occupational Therapy, tied with Colorado State, Thomas Jefferson, and Tufts universities; from No. 19 to No. 14 in Pharmacy, tied with the University of Florida and the University of Illinois-Chicago; from No. 14 to No. 11 in Social Work, tied with Fordham University, the University of Southern California, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Virginia Commonwealth University; and from No. 12 to No. 8 in Speech-Language Pathology, tied with the University of Kansas.

In addition, the Swanson School of Engineering moved into the top 50 in The Top Schools of Engineering category, advancing from No. 52 last year to No. 47 this year, tied with Case Western Reserve University.

—By John Harvith

Swanson School Names MIT’s Chakraborty to Receive Bayer Distinguished Lectureship

The University of Pittsburgh’s Swanson School of Engineering has chosen Arup K. Chakraborty, the Robert T. Haslam Professor of Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Bioengineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, as the recipient of the Bayer Distinguished Lectureship 2012. Chakraborty is one of the nation’s leading researchers in experimental immunology through theoretical and computation methods, especially autoimmune deficiencies and HIV.

Chakraborty will present two lectures at Pitt: “How to Hit HIV Where It Hurts” at 5 p.m. March 22 and “Understanding Adaptive Immunity: A Crossroad of the Physical, Life, and Engineering Sciences” at 9:30 a.m. March 23. Both lectures, which are free and open to the public, will be held in Room 102 Benedum Hall. For more information, call 412-624-9630.

The Bayer Distinguished Lectureship is presented annually by Pitt’s Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering and recognizes excellence in chemical education, outreach, and research.

—By B. Rose Huber

Pitt’s Honors College Sets March 22 Panel Titled “The Press and Campaign 2012”

Political reporters on the campaign trail will be making a stop at the University of Pittsburgh to share their insights in a University Honors College-sponsored panel discussion titled “The Press and Campaign 2012” at 7:30 p.m. March 22 in the O’Hara Student Center.

The five national journalists are David Espo, the Associated Press; Michael Kranish, the Boston Globe; James O’Toole, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette; Joe Rago, The Wall Street Journal; and Karen Langley, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. David Shribman, executive editor of the Post-Gazette, will moderate.

Seating is limited for this free public event; those interested in attending must RSVP at www.honorscollege.pitt.edu/press-panel-2012 and click the link to reserve a seat. Additional information is available at http://tinyurl.com/presspanel.

—By Patricia Lomando White